Another thread about muscle cramps

[SadieKate]

The last year or so Hubby has starting getting muscles cramps and charlie horses. He drinks tons of water and Cytomax when riding, has a balanced diet, etc., but he still gets them on long rides. He is sensitive to heat and sweats buckets so I think we just can't keep up with the loss of electrolytes. I'm looking for more intensive replacement methods without the calories of food as he has specific foods he likes while riding. I'm only now getting him to use Cytomax in all his bottles. He's a big boy (just makes the Clydesdale class) so it was a major victory to convince him he needed more Cytomax than I.

V, you mentioned eCaps or something? What is it and how does Thom use it?

Anyone else have suggestions? How did you decide what wasn't hype? Sorry, but we've all seen the documentaries about health food stores and gyms where the salespersons hadn't a clue what they were talking about.

[Veronica]

e caps (http://www.e-caps.com/) E Caps are electrolyte replacements. Thom uses them on really hot days. I've popped a few, especially when it's humid. They seem to help keep him from getting cramps. I've never really had a cramping problem. I think the Hammer Gel people make them. We got a bunch at last year's DMD. A lot of long distance riders use them.


I've started them and Sustain Energy because something has to keep these Double Century people going - other than insanity. :D

V.

[SadieKate]

e-caps seems to be an umbrella name for a bunch of products. Is it the Endurolyte capsules?

[snapdragen]

Endurolyte caps. I got a pack of them at the Holstein last year - really helped me when I got a case of heat exhaustion too.



e-caps seems to be an umbrella name for a bunch of products. Is it the Endurolyte capsules?

[Veronica]

Here's a link (http://www.e-caps.com/za/ECP?PAGE=PRODUCT&PROD.ID=4037) to the ones we use.

V.

[CorsairMac]

you might also look into potassium tablets. If he's sweating a lot he's losing potassium. The three things that remove potass from the body are:
sweating
breathing with your mouth open
urination.

Some of the symptoms of potass imbalance are: leg cramps, headaches, muscle fatigue, "heavy legs"

[LBTC]

crazy at it seems, he might simply need more salt - on rides or in general in his diet.

namaste,
~T~

[SadieKate]

Salt - maybe. We don't salt anything but he eats enough processed foods and deli sandwiches to pick up a ton. Hmm, wonder how much salt there are in Peeps? More likely to be the potassium.

I picked up a bottle of the Endurolytes last night which he is going to try at Party Pardee this weekend. I do like the idea of the full set of electrolytes.